17 October 97, 19:30
Sarajevo – Alija Izetbegovic, Chairman of the BiH Presidency, met with Ambassador Schilling, international mediator for the Federation, to review problems related to return of refugees and functioning of the joint BiH institutions. Kresimir Zubak, a member of the BiH Presidency and Ejup Ganic, FBiH Vice President were also reported to have met with Ambassador Schilling. Again, the return of refugees and the formation of joint police forces were predominant topics in these discussions, underlined the report.
1:50
Rome – The media carried a lengthy report on the Contact Group meeting mostly related to the BiH media. According to the report, the CG decided to render support to the holding of the parliamentary elections in the RS in November, but expressed reservations about the presidential elections in that entity. The CG had approved to close down the TV relay which broadcast TV Pale programmes, underlined the report. The CG was reported to have requested the resignation of Miroslav Toholj, Director of TV Pale.
2:50
Sarajevo – On the eve of the Vienna Conference on Brcko , FBiH Vice President and the Brcko Commission President, Ejup Ganic held talks with Brcko Arbitrator Roberts Owen. The talks mostly dwelt on election results in Brcko and the arbitration process.
0:30
An expert ICTY team completed the unearthing of 66 dead Bosniaks from a mass grave in the location of Fazanerija en route to Brcko-Bijeljina. The dead Bosniaks, who originate from Brcko, are thought to have been kept in a concentration camp in Bijeljina.
1:50
Sarajevo – The Collegiate body of the FBiH House of Representatives adopted today the SGV declaration on human rights and strongly supported its initiative for constitutional status of Serbs in the FBiH and Bosniaks and Croats in the RS. At a joint meeting, it was concluded to prepare an amendment to the BiH Constitution to be forwarded to the BiH Parliament.
1:00
Mostar – In the organization of the OHR office in Mostar, international agencies dealing with return of refugees and federation and cantonal officials held a joint meeting. At a press conference held afterwards, the press was told that tangible results were not reached. Safet Orucevic, Deputy Mayor of Mostar stated that the Croatian side refused to endorse already agreed procedure for the return of refugees. He referred to the so-called Zagreb agreement between Croatian President Tudjman and Robert Frowick, OSCE Head of Mission defined in three points. This agreement, stated Orucevic, clearly described commitments of the Croat side in regard to return of refugees to Mostar.
2:00